Disney Reveals Plans for 'Gigantic' Jack and the Beanstalk Animated Feature at D23

Courtesy of Disney

'Gigantic'

"Let It Go" songwriters Robert Lopez and Kirsten Anderson-Lopez are on board to write songs.

Walt Disney Feature Animation is making Gigantic, based on Jack and the Beanstalk, it was announced Friday at Disney's D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center.

“We hope this will be the definitive version of Jack and the Beanstalk ... with comedy and deep emotion,” said the film’s director, Nathan Greno (Tangled). He also announced that Frozen songwriters Robert Lopez and Kirsten Anderson-Lopez will write the songs for the film, and he invited them on stage to sing one song from the film.

Incidentally, Mickey Mouse climbed the beanstalk in Mikey and the Beanstalk a 1947 Disney cartoon.

Also announced during the session was that Shakira will provide the voice of Gizelle and also provide a song in Walt Disney Feature Animation's upcoming animated feature Zootopia,

Taking the stage were the film's directors Byron Howard (Tangled) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph) with producer Spencer Clark. And they introduced the film's protagonist, Judy Hops, and her voice actor, Ginnifer Goodwin.

In the first exclusive preview clip, Hops meets a fox, Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), in a comedic scene set at an ice cream parlor. The fox turns out to a sneaky con artist, not the kind father that she thought. But during a case to find a missing otter, these natural enemies learn what they could be.

Also previewed was Disney’s Moana, whose protagonist is a 16-year-old princess named Moana. The story, set in the South Pacific, was introduced by directors John Musker and Ron Clements and producer Osnat Schurer.

They brought on stage Dwayne Johnson, who will voice “the strong, powerful and achingly handsome” South Pacific demi-God Maui, who need to find his true self as he caught between two worlds.

Clements explained that Moana a Maui will team up on a journey after her grandmother passes away. “I’m sorry but this is a Disney movie,” he said, as he announced the loss of the grandmother.

They announced the film's musical team, including Tony and Grammy winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the new Broadway musical Hamilton; composer Mark Macina; and Opetaia Foa'i, songwriter and lead vocalist of the Polynesian-rock fusion band Te Vaka, which performed a song from the film during the presentation.

The filmmakers also previewed some beautiful animation that included a scene set on a quiet beach.The film is slated to open Nov. 23, 2016.

Walt Disney Feature Animation and Pixar Animation Studio's chief creative officer John Lasseter hosted the presentation. “It’s amazing what's happening in animation at this studio; It's built on an incredible legacy," he said.